Modi will drive from Imphal airport to Kangla Fort before taking a chopper to Churachandpur, signalling outreach to both Kuki-zo and Meitei communities.
BY PC Bureau
September 1, 2025: – A multilayer security grid has been placed across Manipur, covering Imphal and Churachandpur, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the violence-scarred state on September 13.
The visit will begin with Modi driving from Imphal airport to the historic Kangla Fort, a symbolic gesture towards the Meitei-majority valley, before taking a helicopter to Churachandpur, a Kuki-Zo stronghold. Home ministry Officials in Delhi say the travel route itself has been designed to send a powerful message that the Prime Minister intends to reach out to both the valley and the hills, which have been bitterly divided since the outbreak of ethnic conflict in May 2023.
The preparations were finalized at a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of Manipur on August 30 at the Main Conference Hall of the Manipur Secretariat, South Block. The meeting brought together senior bureaucrats and security officials, who were briefed on the elaborate arrangements required for what was described as a “grand” and sensitive visit.
Security Measures
The Director General of Police outlined a detailed security plan in coordination with the Special Protection Group (SPG). Measures include:
- Installation of jammers, sanitization drives, and anti-sabotage checks along all routes and at the venues in both Kangla and Churachandpur.
- Drone surveillance, CCTV cameras, two layers of view cutters, and door-frame metal detectors at all event sites.
- Strict crowd control and social distancing protocols at programme venues.
- A bulletproof carcade for the Prime Minister, designed in consultation with the SPG.
- Special traffic arrangements to ensure smooth movement.
- Preparation of security passes, car passes, and proximity passes for officials.
Venue Preparations
The Commissioner of Horticulture was tasked with the aesthetic side of the visit. Plans include decorating the stage and dais at both Kangla and Churachandpur with fresh flowers, as well as floral arrangements at Imphal airport and the footbridge near the airport gate. Beautification of road medians along the PM’s route — from Imphal Airport to Kangla and from the BSF helipad to the Peace Ground in Churachandpur — has also been entrusted to horticulture, forest, and cultural departments.
Logistical Arrangements
The Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD) was instructed to finalize designs for hoardings prepared by the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR). Temporary camp offices and green rooms will be equipped with telephone, internet, fax, printers, and computers. Refreshments, including tea, snacks, and safe drinking water for the VVIP entourage, will be provided, with food testing arrangements handled jointly by the Police and Health Departments.
READ: Devil Worship Alarm: Nagaland MLAs Call Special Session to Protect Youth
By choosing to first visit Kangla Fort — once the seat of Manipur’s kings and a symbol of Meitei identity — and then flying to Churachandpur, the epicenter of the 2023 clashes, Modi is attempting to balance the sensitivities of both communities. “This is not just a logistical route, it’s a political statement,” a senior state official said. “The Prime Minister wants to show that he belongs to both the valley and the hills.”
The visit, the first by Modi since violence erupted, is being seen as a litmus test for his government’s ability to restore normalcy in Manipur. Civil society groups, women’s organizations, and community leaders are expected to meet him during the trip, while displaced families hope he will announce stronger relief and rehabilitation measures.
Security officials insist the visit is under tight control. “Every possible precaution has been factored in. The objective is to protect the Prime Minister without diluting his message of reconciliation,” one senior officer emphasized.
